A hand with your remote.

Smart TVs and streaming boxes that can be controlled over Wi-Fi: LG (webOS), Samsung (2016 and newer), Android TV and Google TV (including Sony, Philips, TCL, Hisense, Xiaomi, Sharp and Chromecast), Roku, Fire TV, Philips TVs without Android, Sony Bravia with IP control on, Vizio SmartCast and Panasonic Viera sets made before 2019. Apple TV, Hisense VIDAA and newer Panasonic sets don’t let other apps control them yet. TVs without Wi-Fi only listen to infrared, which iPhones don’t have.

Turn the TV on and make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi as the TV, with any VPN off. Check that Armrest may use the local network in iOS Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network. Some hotel, guest and office networks keep devices from seeing each other; on those no phone app can reach the TV. You can also add the TV by its IP address, which the TV shows in its network settings.

Tap Connect next to your TV. LG and Samsung TVs ask you to accept Armrest on screen. Android TV and Google TV show a 6-character code; Fire TV, Philips, Sony and Vizio show a PIN. Type it in Armrest. Roku and older Philips and Panasonic sets need no pairing. Armrest remembers each TV, so you pair once.

Sony TVs without Google TV need Settings › Network › Remote device settings › Control remotely turned on. On a Roku, set Settings › System › Advanced system settings › Control by mobile apps to Enabled. Sony TVs with Google TV pair as a Google TV instead.

Turning off always works while Armrest is connected. Turning on depends on the TV: it has to keep its network on in standby. On LG, turn on Settings › General › Devices › External devices › TV On With Mobile; on Samsung, Settings › General › Network › Expert settings › Power On with Mobile. Because iOS limits how apps send the wake-up signal, it’s most reliable shortly after the TV was turned off.

Open a search box on the TV first, then use Armrest’s Keyboard tab. On LG, Android TV, Google TV and Roku the letters appear as you type; on other TVs, type and tap Send. A few TVs don’t accept typing from apps at all.

Android TV, Google TV and Fire TV don’t tell other apps what’s installed, so Armrest shows the popular ones. Opening one that isn’t installed takes the TV to its store page. LG, Samsung, Roku, Philips and Sony list their own apps.

Open Control Center, tap +, then Add a Control and search for Armrest to add TV power, volume, mute or play/pause. The same controls fit the Lock Screen. Or ask Siri: “Turn off the TV with Armrest”. They work with the TV you used last in Armrest.

Yes, if your phone is on the same Wi-Fi as the TV. Pair it like your own TV. When you leave, swipe the TV in Armrest’s TV list and choose Forget, and you can remove Armrest from the TV’s own list of paired devices in its settings.

Armrest follows your iPhone or iPad’s language. To choose another one just for Armrest, go to iOS Settings › Apps › Armrest › Language.

In Armrest, open Settings and tap Send feedback. The email includes your app version, device and TV model, so we can help faster. You can also email us, below.